Production of detergent compositions containing calcium carbonate

Abstract

Particulate detergent compositions which comprise a detergent compound, an alkali metal carbonate detergency builder and finely divided calcium carbonate having a surface area of at least about 5 m 2 /g, are made with improved properties, by using a process in which the calcium carbonate is dispersed in water to which at least some of the detergent compound is added, after which the alkali metal carbonate is added to form a detergent slurry which is then spray-dried to form the detergent composition.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a process for making a particulate detergent composition comprising from about 5 to about 40% of a detergent surface active compound selected from the group consisting of an anionic active which does not form an insoluble calcium salt during use, an amphoteric active, a zwitterionic active and mixtures thereof; from about 10 to about 75% of an alkali metal carbonate detergency builder; and from about 5 to about 60% of finely divided calcium carbonate having a surface area of at least about 5m 2  /g, the percentages being by weight of the total composition, the improvement whereby the calcium carbonate is dispersed in water to which from 5 to 100% of the detergent surface active compound is added, this percentage being by weight of the total detergent active compound in on the resultant composition, after which the alkali metal carbonate is added to form a detergent slurry which is then spray dried to form the detergent composition. 
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1, whrein the calcium carbonate has a surface are of from about 30 to about 100 m 2  /g. 
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the calcium carbonate has not been dried before it is incorporated into the detergent slurry. 
     
     
       4. A process according to claim 1, comprising the step of adding to the detergent slurry sodium toluene sulphonate, coconut monoethanolamide or a condensation product of nine moles of ethylene oxide with a linear secondary alkanol containing 11 to 15 carbon atoms as a slurry viscosity decreasing additive, in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 5.0% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
       5. A process according to claim 1, comprising the step of adding to the detergent slurry after the calcium carbonate from about 5 to about 15% by weight of sodium alkaline or neutral silicate, based on the final composition.